Sodium reduction: The science, the technology... and the business case

It's expensive, risky, and difficult, but manufacturers have made huge progress on sodium reduction in recent years. But how much further can they go, and where is the ROI if consumers are at best indifferent to their efforts, or at worst downright suspicious?

They want to do the right thing, but for many firms, the business case just isn't there.

Mandatory targets or a voluntary approach?

So is the answer mandatory targets to force these firms to find more creative solutions to the problem, or should the government butt out and leave the industry to find its own way forward?

Not surprisingly, food manufacturers are arguing for a voluntary approach, while the American Heart Association say government intervention is the only way to drive the kind of meaningful, across-the-board reductions it insists are needed.

To muddy the waters further, other stakeholders are now challenging the prevailing hypothesis that cutting sodium – ideally to 1,500mg/day – can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, and say the government is not basing its decision-making on sound science.

FoodNavigator-USA’s special edition on sodium reduction explores all of these issues – but also provides examples of creative technical solutions developed by food ingredients suppliers and academics to help manufacturers reduce sodium without compromising on taste or functionality.

The challenges: Creating a business case for sodium reduction, and overcoming technical hurdles

Can manufacturers afford to make products consumers don't want to buy? Click here.

Will sodium reduction only work if there is a level playing field? Click here

Where does the science really stand on the health benefits of population-wide sodium reduction targets? Click here
for the American Heart Association's view and click here
for the Salt Association's - rather different - take on it.

So processed foods are the culprit... But what are processed foods? Click here
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It's expensive, risky, and difficult, but manufacturers have made huge progress on sodium reduction in recent years. But how much further can they go, and where is the ROI if consumers are at best indifferent to their efforts, or at worst downright suspicious?

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Sodium is not the boogeyman

While there are a few individuals sensitive to salt, the vast majority are not, meanwhile salt is the only source of iodine for many. When we began to iodize salt, we eliminated goiter in the US. With all this blather about lowering the salt content of foods, people are responding by lowering their salt intake and goiter is once again on the rise. WHen oh when are we going to learn that humans are many faceted creatures. It is not possible to adjust one part without messing up some other part. We can no longer afford the foolish one element does one thing though that pervades medicine and nutrition. We must begin to look at the entire body and all of it's needs before we begin to make public policy that is sure to cause more harm than good.